Sinkhole To Be Tricky For School

Deltona High Will Change Parking Lots During Work On Roadway

December 24, 2004|By Denise-Marie Balona, Sentinel Staff Writer

DELTONA -- Deltona High School will resume classes as scheduled Jan. 3, but Volusia County officials still are working out the details of how traffic will work around the massive sinkhole that's blocking part of Howland Boulevard next to the campus.

Principal Gary Marks said that as workers correct damage to the road during the next few months, students and employees will trade parking lots.

Students will park at the front of the school, using the parking lot off Wolf Pack Run. The school also will open up a parking area behind the clinic and attendance office to pupils.

Marks also is encouraging students to carpool because space is limited.

Parent pickup and drop-off arrangements won't change, Marks said. Families can still do that in front of the school.

Officials decided to trade lots because buses will need to use the current student parking lot for picking up and unloading pupils.

The bus entrance is blocked by the sinkhole. Roughly half as many employees drive to school as students so there will be less congestion if employees use the student lot.

Marks urged drivers to be cautious when traveling on or near the campus.

"We're going to have traffic issues until this gets worked out so we're asking for patience," he said. "We're also asking people to understand there might be some slight fluctuations in bus pickup and drop-off times."

County officials plan to begin filling the hole Monday and hope to have Howland Boulevard reopened within two months.